The discovery of static electricity is attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus around 600 BCE, who observed that rubbing amber with cloth could attract light objects like feathers, marking one of the earliest recorded studies of electrical properties.

Thales of Miletus and Early Observations

Thales of Miletus (c. 624–546 BCE) is credited with discovering static electricity by observing the phenomenon that amber, when rubbed with cloth, gains the ability to attract small objects. This phenomenon became known as static electricity.

Later Scientific Developments

• In 1600 CE, William Gilbert expanded on Thales' work and was the first to use the term "electricity," furthering the study of electrical phenomena.

• In the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin and other scientists conducted more advanced experiments with static electricity, leading to the development of electrical theory and devices such as Franklin’s electrostatic machine.

Summary Table: Early Contributors

Name| Contribution| Date
---|---|---
Thales of Miletus| Discovered static electricity with amber| ~600 BCE 1269
William Gilbert| Coined the word "electricity"; expanded study| 1600 CE 2
Benjamin Franklin| Experimented with static electricity devices| Mid-1700s 3

The earliest discovery of static electricity is therefore credited to Thales of Miletus in ancient Greece.